The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1887-06-02
The NATIONAL DRILL.
The Three Important Days of the Great
Military Event of the Present Year.


WASHINGTON, May 24.-The competi-
tive drill began at 10 o'clock this morn
ing. Company A, First Minnesota Reg
lment, was The first company to enter.
They drilled well. The second company
was the Eighth separate company OF
Rochester, N. Y. These two companies
far from the grand stand to be seen to
advantage. Next followed the Muscatine
Rifles of Iowa. They marched to the
front of the grand stand, saluted the
judges and began to drill. They handled
their pieces well, but were o little weak
in foot movements. They we're liberally
applauded. Then followed the Grand
Rapids Guards, Company A, First Bat,
TALON Virginia (colored) Volunteers,
Southrons, Vicksburg; Company A,
First Virginia Regiment. Popular de-
monstrations indicated that the Vicks
burg men and Company A, First Vir
ginia Regiment, had won the greatest
favor of the day. The competing com.
panies were limited in numbers to
twenty-fou1 men each, with their three
officers and two guides.
The program of marouvres was de-
hvered to each company's commander
one hour before the time allotted for the
corps appearance, and tho men were
thereby kept in ignorance of the
manoouvres they were to execute till the
orders were actually given. In general
terms, they were to exercise first IN the
school of the soldier fhat is without
arms) then in the manual no arms, and
lastly, in the school of the company.
Thirty minutes were allotted to each
company to complete its program. A
furious thunder and wind storm came up
about four o'clock and put an end to the
proceedings. The crowds scattered at
once. The roof was blown of large
part of the grand stand and the canvass,
rocks, forts and war vessels, md light
house of the "Pyorama" were tipped over
and scattered. The order for dress
parade at p. m. was rcscinded. For the
proposed dress parade commands have
been organized i'll provisional battalions,
in which the troops of tho respective
sections Of the country arc grouped to,
gether as far as possible. kentucky
Ohio and District of Columbia men cacl
form ono battalion; Texas, Mississippi
and Missouri form one; the Governor
Guard Of North Carolina are with Mich
igan and Minnesota men; the Virgini
troops constitute separate brigade
already completely organized under Gen
Q. j. Anderson. The total number o
men in camp is about $500, in sevent,
organizations. Onc-third of the tot,
are Nirgininns. Thrce-quartcrs Of tn
commands have entered tho competition
for infantry prizes, ono of which is col
ored. -Four colorcd companies arc il
camp, two from Virginia and two from
the District of Columbia.
WAsuINGToN, May 25.-Tho parade O
troops to-day for revicw by tho Prcsi
dent has afforded the first opportunit
for seeing ut once the entire body O
those forming the oncampment and wa
an unqualified success. The wcathe
was perfect, Washington looked its best
and the greater part of the population
seemed to be on tho line of march. The
arrangements for the parade were sea
sonably completed and were carried on
almost to the allotted second and with
out an apparent hitch or break. Th,
head OF the column started from cuml
promptly at II O'Clock and reached tn,
stand erected for the President and in
vited guests ten minutes later. Thi
stand had seats for nearly 800 persons
and was well filled, without crowding
With the President were Mrs. Cleveland
Mrs. Welsh and Mrs. Marsey, and Colo
mel and Mrs. Lamont. General ShCridaI
and several members of his staff in Gul
uniform wero their escort. Among TIL
guests OF the drill wcrO Governor Lee, o
Virginia, and statf, Governor McGill, o
Minnesota, and staff, and the staff O
Governor Gray, of Indiana, (tho Gov
ernor himself having been detained n
the last momonD, Secretary Endicott
Senators Sherman and GOIman, the
Mexican and Japanese Ministers and the
ladies of their families, and liberia
sprinkling of other legation and army
people. The troops looked ana marched
like veterans, and were encouraged with
liberal applause. In one respect tho
programme was departed from. The
Vicksburg Southrons, with their band
and the Memphis Iouaves, brought up
the rear with quite an interval between
them and their predecessors. They
formed in fact n little column by them
selves. They had been assigned to posi-
tions respectively in the fourth and
ninth provisional battalions, but dropped
out of line because, as their officers eX-
planned, they were placed Immediately
behind the colorcd organizations.
Another heavy shower about 4 o'clock
prevented the dress parade, scheduled
for 5 o'clock.
WASHINGTON, May 26.-Tho Richmond
Greys broke camp this morning and left
for homo. They came hero with the
understanding that they would not re-
main after they had taken part in the
competitive infantry drill. Company a,
Third North Carolina Regiment, also re-
turned home to-day. The reason is that
many Of the members are engaged in
business, and they were unable to obtain
leave of absence beyond to-day.
The weather was superb to-day. The
day was industriousy devoted to com.
petitive drilling and the authorities,
profting by experience and criticism,
are making the work very interesting,
Seven or eight thousand spectators were
on the grand stand.
The competing infantry companies
were the Governors Guards, of Raleigh,
n. g.; the Louisiana Rifles; the Sars-
field Guards, Of New Haven; Conn.
Company G, first N. j.; Company b,
Washington Light Infantry Corps;
Toledo, Ohio, Cadets, and Company A,